Container for insulating or impregnating compounds



t W. A. TIMM'. 1

CONTAINER FOR msumme on IMPREGNATING COMPOUNDS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 311918. v 1,386,912. Patented Aug. 9, 1921'.

' ZSHEETS-SHEET 1.

llllll lmllllllllllllliii Wilt 07111212712722 UNITED 4 STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. TIMM, F BERWYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC GOM- PANY, INCORPORATED, 013 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTAINER FOR INSULATING OR IMPREGNAT'ING COMPOUNDS.

Application filed July 8,

exact description.

This invention relates to containers for insulating or impregnating compounds, and moreparticularly to a portable supply tank for replenishing the supply of insulating or impregnating compound used in connection with machines for? treating covered conductors.

In the machines which are used in the treatment "of covered conductors it is important that the impregnating compound be maintained at practically a uniform temperature considerably above the ordinary room temperature in order to prevent the compound from forming lumps which adhere to the conductor andprevent the application of the compound in a uniform manner. I

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide a convenient, safe, and efficient means for replenishing the supply of impregnating or insulating compounds in the tanks without causing the compound to become cold and lumpy.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided a portable tank in which the impregnating compound can be heated to the desired temperature, thoroughly mixed to dissolve all'lumps, and rapidly conveyed to the tanks or containers of the im regnatingmachine without causing San un ue drop in the temperature of the compound in the impregnating machine.

One of the features of this invention relates to the construction of a discharge pipe by means of which the impregnating compound is prevented from cooling or lumping during its assage from the container to the tank which is to be supplied, which feature consists essentially in surrounding the discharge pipe with an electrically operated heating element.

4 In accordance with another feature of this Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

1918. Serial No. 243,933.

i The method of mounting the discharge I pipe, pump, and motor in order thatthey may be readily removed from the container is also believed to be patentable:

A further feature of this invention relates to the provision of means for connecting the heating element with a supply circuit in such a manner that a quick,high heat may be obtained for melting fresh compound; or a lower heat may be provided for maintaining the compound at a uniform temperature.

In the drawings illustrating this invention Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a container embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view illustrating the removable feature of the pump, motor, and discharge pipe of the container;

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the discharge pipe illustrating the manner of applying the heating element thereto;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container illustrating the construction of the heating element and the method of mounting it in the container, and

Fig. 6 is a diagram of a connection used in connection with this invention.

As shown in the drawings, 5 designates a container supported upon wheels 6-6 and having mounted upon the bottom thereof front and rear supporting wheels 7 and 8. A handle 9 is attached to the side of the container 5 for the purpose of propelling it.

As shown in Fig. 5, the container 5 comprises an outer metal casing member 10 and an inner casing member 11, between which casing members is located a wall 12 of heat insulating material. Located within the chamber formed by the inner walls of the inner casing member 11 is an electrical heating element 13 surrounding a perforated I sheet metal basket 14: supplied with handles 15-45 by means of which the heating element and basket may be removed from the container;

The impregnating compound is contained within the same chamber as'the heating element andis acted upon thereby.

The interior of the container is made easily accessible through two hinged covers 20 and 21 which, as shown in Fig. 5, are composed of heat resisting walls 22 and 23 surrounded by metal casings 2d and 25. As shown in Fig. 2, the hinged covers 21 and 22 are .L-shaped and each is provided with a handle 27 by means of which itmay be swung upon its hinges 28.

, Removably secured between the narrower portions of the hinged covers 20 and 21 1s a platform 30 preferably of heat insulating material. As more clearly shown in Fig. 3,

this platform 30 is mounted upon a bracket 31 which is adapted to be secured by means mometer 40 by means of which the temperature of the impregnating the container isregistered.

The hinged cover 20 is also provided with an opening through which extends a funnel 42. The discharge pipe 37 is mounted upon a swivel joint 43 so that it may be swung with. its open end directly over the funnel compound within 42 to pass the impregnating material back into the container. Thisdis'charge pipe 37 is surrounded by a heating element 14 mcased in a heat insulating compound 45'and having suitable terminals by means of which it may be connected to a source of current supply. An ordinary molasses gate 46 is seecured to the open end of the discharge pipe 37.

A ventilating opening 41 is provided in the cover 21 for the escape of gases and fumes.

The pump 36 may be operated by means of the motor 35 or by means of a hand wheel 47 which is adapted to engage with the pumping mechanism through the agency of a clutch 48. I

Mounted upon flexible cords carried upon the portable tank are plugs 50, 51, 52, 53, and 54, the plug 50 being connected with conductors which lead to the motor 35 and adapted for insertion into a jack 60, as shown in Fig. 6, which jack is adapted to be connected by meansof a switch 56 across the leads of a three-phase power circuit. A second switch 57 is provided for connecting the primary 58 of a transformer across the power leads of the three-phase circuit. The secondary 59 of this transformer is provided with taps leading to a plurality of switches 62, 63, and 64 by means of which 6 current is supplied to the heating element 13 of the container, which heating element is preferably divided into three phases adapted by means of the plugs 52, 53, and 5 1, jacks 65, 66, and 67, and the switches 62, 63, and 64, to be connected in any desired combination with the windings of the secondary 59. The heating element H of the discharge pipe 37 may be connected to one phase of the three-phase circuit through the agency of the switch 68 and a jack 6?: which is adapted to be engaged by the plug 51. The conductors attached to the plugs 50 and 51. may be made sufiiciently long to extend from the jacks in a power board to any impregnating machine so that the pinnp may be electrically driven when transferring compound from the portable container to a tank, and the heating element of the discharge pipe may be connected in circuit. Since the amount of compound to be replaced in each tank in a day is very slight, the pump can be operated by the hand wheel, and since it is only necessary to apply heat to the discharge pipe during the stirring or mixing process, the connections are preferably made only when the portable container is not in actual use for replenishing the supply of compound in the tanks.

lVhen the compound in the container is brought up totheproper temperature the tank will, due to its construction, retain it at this temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the replenishment of the tanks without the heating element being energized.

The advantages to be gained in the use of the portable container of this invention are that the replenishing compound may be thoroughly stirred or mixed to avoid lumps, the tank could be filled to the proper level in a short period of time thereby preventing the compound already in the tank from cooling to be outside of the required temperature limits, and the compound would be safely transported to the tank-and the tank replenished without danger of scalding or burning of attendants.

What is. claimed is:

1. A portable container for impregnating compound, comprising a heating chamber, an adjustable discharge pipe connected with said chamber, a pump for forcing compound through said pipe, and an opening into said chamber through which the compound may be discharged from said pipe in one position thereof to mix or stir said compound.

2. A portable container for impregnating chamber, and a removable support for said power circuit, and means for connecting said pump and said discharge pipe mounted heating element with said power circuit in within said container. different phase relations to regulate the heat- 10 3. A portable container for impregnating ing of said compound. v 5 compound, comprising a heating chamber, In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe a heating element for said chamber divided my name this 18th day of June, A. D. 1918. into a plurality of phases, a multi-phase WILLIAM A. TIMM., 

